Health-seeking behaviour of women and Men in Githiga Location, Githunguri District, Kenya

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Abstract

This study set out to investigate the health status, health-seeking
behaviour as well as the factors that influence the behaviour among
elderly women and men in Githiga Location, Githunguri District. A total
of 53 elderly women and men were interviewed using a semi-structured
questionnaire. Of those, 49.1% were female and 50.9% were male.
Besides the elderly women and men, health workers in Githiga and Gitiha
health centres as well as in private clinics and pharmacies were
interviewed.
The data analysis was done using simple descriptive analysis technique
and SPSS software. The study found that education, income, marital
status and distance to health facilities affect health-seeking behaviour.
The higher the level of education and income, the more the respondents
sought health services; whereas the greater the distance, the less the
health services were sought. A high percentage of women delayed visit
to health facilities citing the many gender roles that required their
attention.
The study concludes that health-seeking behaviour among women and
men is influenced by gender roles and that the determinants of this
behaviour, affect women and men differently. It is recommended that the
elderly be given priority at health centres to avoid waiting in long queues
or be treated in a room reserved only for them. This will not only save
them valuable time wasted queueing but also encourage them to visit
health facilities as need arises. Health workers should be sensitized on
the need to handle the elderly with care as they appeared very sensitive
and cited young health workers as disrespectful. Need for organization of
free medical camps to bring the services nearer to the elderly as well as
sensitizing them on the need to seek regular treatment was apparent.
Availability of social amenities like social clubs and recreation for use by
the elderly are also recommended. Based on the results, similar studies
need to be conducted elsewhere in the country using a larger sample or
targeting a different group of society like the youth for comparative
purposes.